The Top Mistakes To Avoid When Setting Up Your Recruitment Business

Courtney Greene
Feb 24, 2017 · 2 min read

Starting a new business usually means undergoing various experiences in trial and error. If you are a first-time entrepreneur, it is expected that you won’t get everything right during your first try; what is important is that you learn from any mistakes you commit and avoid repeating them in the future.

Entrepreneurs interested in starting a recruitment business will be likely making a few mistakes during the whole setup process. Knowing the usual recruitment business setup mistakes is a good way to help you avoid committing them and with mitigating the effects. When setting up a recruitment company, below are the top mistakes you have to be aware of and avoid:

1. Failure to have a business plan. Regardless of the size and type of business you intend to set up, one of the important steps you should never skip is creating a business plan. Your business plan is your roadmap to getting where you want and need to go to with your new company; without it, you will simply get lost. You will have a good idea of where and how to lay the foundations of your new business if you know exactly what you’re offering and who you’re offering to.

2. Lack of capital. For new recruitment agencies, it is crucial to have enough funds to keep your company afloat for at least 8 to 12 months. This is because it will take some time before you get paid, even if you managed to find the right candidate for a client. Keep in mind that getting paid by your client will always take longer than you might expect. While waiting for income to start flowing, you need to make sure you have enough money to keep the company going.

3. Inability to attract candidates. Most start-up recruitment agencies fail to recognise the difficulty in developing an efficient candidate acquisition strategy and getting the tools needed to execute this. Since you always need to have an available pool of talents, consider investing in one tool that will enable you to post to job boards, search CV databases, and track your applicants.

4. Taking on a lot of responsibilities. Lastly, if you don’t have plans on hiring a staff, think carefully first. Will you be able to handle all the work properly? If you will be working alone, you will have to produce all of your own paperwork, handle all your accounts, and VAT, etc. All of these will take up your time and you may end up working more than eight hours a day. Make sure you know what you’re in for and don’t rule out getting help when you need to. Even part-time help is better than none at all.

It is important to avoid making these errors since they can be costly and set back all your plans. By doing so, you won’t have too much work cut out for you in achieving your goals for your new business.